(Alistair's POV)
The night air was crisp, carrying the distant sounds of the bustling city beyond the noble district. I did not look back at House Vaelthorne as I walked away, my steps firm, final.
I was no longer bound to that place.
No longer their heir.
No longer my father's son.
And I did not care.
Because I had already chosen my path.
Beside me, Selene moved in perfect silence, her presence blending with the shadows. My shadow guard, once sworn to House Vaelthorne, had not questioned my decision.
She had merely followed.
A silent acknowledgment that her loyalty was to me, not my family.
"Where are we headed first?" she finally asked.
Her voice was cool, professional, but there was a trace of something else beneath it.
Curiosity.
"The Awakened Association," I replied.
"You need an ID."
"Yes."
The Awakened Association was a powerful organization run directly by the royal family, responsible for regulating and monitoring all newly awakened individuals.
Every registered awakener was issued an official ID, which served as both proof of status and a means of tracking their growth.
It was a formality, but one I could not avoid.
And, more importantly—
It would determine my rank.
I already knew that my Awakening had skipped two minor stages, propelling me beyond the average starting point.
But I needed to see the official confirmation for myself.
***
Arriving at the Awakened Association.
The Awakened Association Headquarters stood at the heart of the royal district—a massive silver-white structure, surrounded by towering pillars adorned with intricate mana-inscribed runes.
A testament to the authority of the crown.
As we approached, the automated security golems at the entrance whirred to life, their glowing blue eyes scanning us.
I stepped forward, unbothered.
The moment they detected my mana signature, the barriers shifted, granting entry.
Selene followed, moving like a shadow, unnoticed by most of the attendants.
Inside, the hall was immaculate, filled with bustling clerks and newly awakened individuals undergoing evaluations.
Holographic displays floated midair, showcasing recent events, ranking updates, and the current strongest awakeners in the capital.
None of it mattered to me.
I approached the main counter, where a clerk—a woman in her mid-thirties with sharp eyes—looked up from her screen.
"Name?" she asked.
I met her gaze.
"Alistair Vaelthorne."
There was the briefest pause—just a flicker of recognition in her expression—before she resumed typing.
"House Vaelthorne, is it? We received a notification of your Awakening earlier today."
"No."
I cut her off.
Her fingers froze on the keyboard.
I continued, my voice unwavering.
"I am no longer affiliated with House Vaelthorne. Register me as an independent awakener."
Her eyebrows rose slightly, but she did not press the issue.
"Very well. Step forward for evaluation."
*****
The evaluation chamber was a vast circular room, lined with towering crystalline pillars that hummed with latent energy.
At its center stood the Core Resonance Obelisk, a monolithic structure designed to measure an individual's mana purity, density, and growth potential.
I stepped forward without hesitation, placing my hand against the cool surface.
The moment I did, the obelisk lit up, arcs of violet and black mana swirling around its core.
A hushed silence fell over the chamber.
Even the attendants monitoring the process seemed momentarily stunned.
Then, the results materialized in the air:
[Awakener: Alistair Vaelthorne]
[Mana Core Rank: D+]
[Awakening Anomaly Detected: Unclassified Abyssal Influence]
D+ rank.
I had skipped two entire sub-ranks, placing me ahead of most new awakeners.
But what intrigued me more was the anomaly detection.
The Ever-Hungry Maw's influence was not something the system could fully categorize.
That suited me just fine.
One of the attendants finally broke the silence.
"You… bypassed the standard Novice and Apprentice ranks entirely."
It wasn't a question.
Just stated fact.
I lowered my hand from the obelisk, ignoring the curious stares of the others.
"Is there anything else?" I asked, voice calm.
The clerk from before nodded slowly, regaining her composure.
"No. Your ID will be processed shortly."
Minutes later, I was handed a sleek black card, etched with my identification data and mana signature.
It was official now.
I was no longer just Alistair Vaelthorne.
I was an Awakened.
***
With the registration complete, I left the association without another word, Selene trailing silently beside me.
I had no intention of staying in the noble district.
Not anymore.
Instead, I navigated through the lower sectors of the city, passing through bustling streets lined with modern architecture fused with arcane design.
Hover-trams zipped overhead, and floating mana lanterns illuminated the walkways below.
It was a stark contrast to the noble estates—livelier, grittier, real.
Soon, I reached my destination.
A modest, high-rise apartment nestled in the heart of the independent awakener district.
I had purchased it in secret, long before my Awakening.
An emergency measure.
Because deep down, I had always known that one day, I would leave my family behind.
The entrance door scanned my mana signature, then unlocked with a quiet chime.
I stepped inside.
It was spartan—a single bedroom, a compact kitchen, reinforced mana-inscribed walls, and a training space at the far end.
Exactly what I needed.
Selene entered behind me, her gaze sweeping the room before she nodded in approval.
I set my belongings down and exhaled, the weight of the day finally settling in.
I had walked away from my family.
I had chosen power over tradition.
And now—
The real work would begin.
I turned to Selene, my mind already shifting to the next step.
"We need information."
She nodded.
"What are we looking for?"
I met her gaze.
"The underworld. Black markets. Forbidden techniques."
"You're diving in deep already."
"There's no point in hesitation."
I walked toward the window, looking out at the vast cityscape before me.
I had a head start, but it would not last forever.
If I was to master the power I had taken, I needed to act now.
Because this was just the beginning.
And I had no intention of being anything less than unstoppable.
TO BE CONTINUE...